Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov

Another quote on "show don't tell" this one by Anton Chekhov, one of the great masters of the modern short story. If you are a short story writer and haven't read his work, it might be time to go back and read at least one.

The modern short story emphasizes characterization and mood over plot.By reading a classic story by Anton Chekhov you can see how this was the beginning of the movement.In my Raymond Carver post there is a link to an essay about the similarities between Anton Chekhov and Raymond Carver. If you haven't read it, it is a good read.

Today, read some of your recent work...could it be improved by showing your reader more with dialogue and action?If you need more help with this concept try this link. If you need even more help read The Eavesdrop Writer's blog, read how a story develops with little more than action and dialogue. Now get back to work!